Cape Peninsula University of Technology

Purpose: Data-overload is a generic, complicated issue, affecting data-analysis processes for many researchers. The challenge emanates from the researcher collecting volumes of data that hinder their ability to engage in higher-level data-analysis processes. Despite the existence of numerous frameworks towards understanding the world, novice qualitative researchers often become overwhelmed, disregard guidelines, and neglect to clearly explain their data-analysis processes. This paper discusses the author’s experience with data-overload and how the three-phase coding process and collaborative decision-making with other stakeholders helped overcome challenges. The aim is to offer new accounting science researchers a set of examples, to serve as benchmarks when dealing with data-overload in their qualitative research projects. Methodology/Approach: The author employs narrative reflection, to capture the interpretive thematic data-analysis of in-depth interviews and document-based datasets derived from a completed dissertation. This paper’s discussions are based on the key factors of data-overload and data-analysis concepts provided by the literature review. Charmaz’s constructivist grounded theory principles and Creswell's spiral framework were used to present an open, axial and focused coding process, organising data around concepts, and forming categories and themes for theory development. Implications and Value: The three-phase coding method in qualitative data-analysis can effectively help navigate data-overload and provide reliable insights concerning the collected data. The developed frameworks can assist accounting science students and supervisors, as supplementary resources in addition to existing guidance, when they experience data-overload in their qualitative research projects.

Thermoelectricity is a promising technology; however, though clean and versatile, its efficiency has been questionable and consequently limiting its extensive utilization. Many published research on thermoelectricity have been on power generation and cooling applications, with few publications on heating, especially practically. Thus, this article practically focuses on thermoelectric devices (TEDs) when used as thermoelectric heaters (TEHs). Sixteen identical TEDs (TEC‐12706) were operated as TEHs under similar test modalities and powered in succession with 12, 10, 8, 6, and 4 V, to practically examine TEHs energy dynamics and in/efficiency. It was found that all the TEHs used in the research performed relatively inconsistent with each other with the worst‐performed TEH (TEH0) having a mean hot‐side temperature of 30.276°C with a mean power consumption of 13.826 W; whereas the best‐performed TEH (TEH3) had a mean hot‐side temperature of 40.4°C with a mean power consumption of 20.822 W. Furthermore, all the TEHs hot‐side temperature increased proportionately with the input voltage; though at the specified voltages, the TEHs hot‐side temperature increased while its input power decreased over time. The concepts of TEH hot‐side mean temperature and TEH mean input power were also introduced.

Although the demand for energy appears to increase perpetually, the methods by which energy is generated are changing. The sole dependance on utilities and municipalities for power is over and customers can generate and utilize their own power. Furthermore, they can store excess power and mechanisms are in place to sell excess power to the grid. Electricity still is the most efficient and widely used form of energy globally. Due to global warming and climate change, the methods of generation are moving away from fossil fuels towards more sustainable and thus renewable options. Many cities have thus taken it upon themselves to align to global targets of reducing their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Coupled with the decreasing cost of renewable energy, the relaxation of regulations, and the current generation constraints, cities are considering generation from Independent Power Producers (IPPs). The power grid is evolving at the generation, transmission, and at the utility level. This is a trend amongst large cities globally and is now being seen within South Africa. Insights into the potential for renewables within SA, the current planning and forecasting methodologies are analyzed. The introduction of renewables into the grid has necessitated the grid to evolve, which is a trend that will continue given the current disruption within the energy sector.

Mobile devices play a key role in developing mental health focused applications for individuals. The presented research proposes using mobile devices to limit the occurrence of depression in disabled individuals. It proposes a novel two stage solution that limits depression in disabled subscribers. The solution is integrated in a headband. Disabled subscribers have been considered because of their limited ability (or inability) to demonstrate motor skills enabling them to avoid trauma triggering scenarios. The research also examines how the proposed mechanism influences an individual’s identity. This is because existing solution utilize an invasive approach while the proposed solution is non-invasive. Analysis shows that the proposed mechanism preserves individual identity by 74.2%–99.3% on average.

This paper introduces an energy management strategy for a hybrid renewable micro-grid system. The efficient operation of a hybrid renewable micro-grid system requires an advanced energy management strategy able to coordinate the complex interactions between different energy sources and loads. This strategy must consider some factors such as weather fluctuations and demand variations. Its significance lies in achieving the overarching objectives of these systems, including optimizing renewable energy utilization, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting energy independence, and ensuring grid resilience. The intermittent nature of renewable sources necessitates a predictive approach that anticipates the energy availability and adjusts the system operation. The aim of this study was to develop an energy management system for a hybrid renewable micro-grid system to optimize the deployment of renewable energy resources and increase their integration in the power system. Therefore, the main objective of this work was to develop an energy management strategy that controls the flow of energy between the hybrid micro-grid system and the load connected directly as well as the load connected to the utility grid using MATLAB/Simulink software. The second objective was to control the charging and discharging of the battery. The results show that the developed algorithm was able to control the energy flow between the hybrid micro-grid system and the utility grid and also to ensure a proper relation between the charging /discharging rate of the battery based on their operating conditions. In this application, the battery was charged at higher power. It was seen that a higher charging power enables to fully recharge the battery in a shorter amount of time than usual. The results have shown that it is possible to maximize the charging time by using a greater power and this algorithm ensures the state of charge (SOC) of battery to remain in the admissible limits (between 20 and 100%).

This paper aims to reflect upon what can be found at the intersection of SDG 6 and Agenda 2063 (Goal 11). Albeit both soft law mechanisms (i.e. SDG 6 and Agenda 2063, Goal 11) are non-binding in nature, they may offer opportunities for significant development in areas of African nations, specifically with the view to promoting the improved management of wetlands. This paper aims to fill the gap based on Royo et al. 2022 and the African Union webpage that published work on the intersections of SDGs and Agenda 2063. There is no concrete or documented evidence of the intersectionality between SDG 6 and Agenda 2063 (Goal 11). It is argued that the benefit of exploring intersectionality is significant, especially in promoting objects of improved wetland management strategies through the lens of the Ramsar Convention of 1971 for African nations. A qualitative method is utilised to achieve this aim, and the analysis techniques include doctrinal legal and documentary analysis techniques. The results demonstrate the binding obligation at this intersection and how African states may utilise their wetland management strategies to demonstrate to the regulatory bodies how they have accelerated or achieved sustainability by cross-cutting these two separate sustainability aspirations (SDGs and Agenda 2063).

Smart aquaponics systems are gaining popularity as they contribute immensely to sustainable food production. These systems enhance traditional farming with advanced technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), solar energy, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for increased proficiency and productivity. However, assessing the performance and effectiveness of these systems is challenging. A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to examine the applications, technologies, and evaluation methods used in smart aquaponics. The study sourced peer-reviewed publications from IEEE Xplore, Scopus, SpringerLink and Science Direct. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 105 primary studies were selected for the SLR. The findings show that aquaponics predictions (27%) have been under-explored compared to applications that involved monitoring or monitoring and controlling aquaponics (73%). IoT technologies have been used to create prototype aquaponic systems and collect data, while machine learning/deep learning (predictive analytics) are used for prediction, abnormality detection, and intelligent decision-making. So far, predictive analytics solutions for aquaponics yield prediction, return-on-investment (ROI) estimates, resource optimisation, product marketing, security of aquaponics systems, and sustainability assessment have received very little attention. Also, few studies (37.7%) incorporated any form of evaluation of the proposed solutions, while expert feedback and usability evaluation, which involved stakeholders and end-users of aquaponics solutions, have been rarely used for their assessment. In addition, existing smart aquaponics studies have limitations in terms of their short-term focus (monitoring and controlling of aquaponics not undertaken over a long time to assess performance and sustainability), being conducted mostly in controlled settings (which limits applicability to diverse conditions), and being focused on specific geographical contexts(which limits their generalizability). These limitations provide opportunities for future research. Generally, this study provides new insights and expands discussion on the topic of smart aquaponics.

Metal contamination of aquatic systems is a global concern, negatively impacting ecosystems and human health. However, limited information is available on metal concentration levels in South African estuaries, including the Zandvlei estuary in Cape Town, a highly urbanised system with an extensive stormwater drainage network. The objective of this study was to determine spatial and temporal variations of metal concentrations (aluminium, zinc, lead, and copper) in water, sediment, and macroalgae (i.e. Enteromorpha spp.) in the Zandvlei estuary. Samples were collected from five sites over four seasons in 2017 and analysed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), with metal levels were compared to water and sediment quality guidelines. Results revealed significant spatial and temporal variations, influenced by the proximity to pollution sources, physicochemical parameters, river inputs, sediment characteristics, weather conditions, and anthropogenic activities (i.e. industrial activities and urban development). In water samples, metals were most concentrated in the order Al > Zn > Cu > Pb; in sediment and macroalgae, the order was Al > Zn > Pb > Cu. Notably, Enteromorpha spp. accumulated higher metal concentrations than water and sediments, and some metal levels exceeded guideline thresholds, indicating contamination risks. These findings highlight the importance of Enteromorpha spp . as a biomonitoring tool for metal pollution in urban estuarine environments. This study addresses significant knowledge gaps in South African estuaries, supporting enhanced environmental monitoring and conservation strategies.

Network applications for the Internet of Things (IoT) frequently use Long-Range (LoRa) technology. It allows tiny wireless devices to transmit data at low volumes. The idea behind LoRa networks, or Low-Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN), is to use airborne data transmission from sensors with a transmission range of no more than 10 km. These sensors run on batteries and should not be connected to the electrical grid. Because of the benefits of Long-Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN) private networks, users have implemented various services in a single LoRaWAN system to realize a range of intelligent applications. LoRaWAN faces difficulties with multiservice coexistence as the number of applications grows because of insufficient channel resources, disorganized network configuration, and scalability problems. Creating a sensible plan for allocating resources is the best course of action. Nevertheless, current methods are inapplicable to LoRaWAN systems that support several services with varying criticalities. To coordinate multiservice networks, we therefore suggest a priority-based spreading factor (SF) allocation delay monitoring layered (DML) resource allocation scheme. The three primary categories of LoRaWAN application services—monitoring, control, and safety—are outlined in this paper. The suggested prioirty based resource allocation (PB-RA) scheme distributes SFs to end devices according to the highest priority parameter, taking into account the varying criticalities of these services. This increases throughput, lowers energy consumption, and increases packet delivery rate (PDR). The main advantage associated with using it is that priority is given to applications that require safety without introducing latency in other applications.

COVID-19 pandemic experiences have globally accelerated technology use in higher education, including in developing countries like South Africa. The advancements and use of technology during the COVID-19 lockdown led to increased access to knowledge relevant to educational, professional, and personal development. Nonetheless, difficulties with incorporating technology into teaching and learning remain in teacher education, and there are no real-world examples explaining solutions adapted to reflect South African post-pandemic teacher education. This research, conducted at a public university issues, high levels of plagiarism, and load shedding as challenges faced by pre-service teachers and teacher educators in post-pandemic teacher education. The results highlight the need in South Africa, aimed to understand and exemplify technology adaptations and challenges in post-pandemic teacher education through Vygotsky’s social constructivist worldview. Data collected through observation and a focus-group interview session with participants in the Faculty of Education at a university in South Africa revealed technology incompatibility, ad-hoc solutions to socio-economic for continuous, interactive, and practically focused interactions between educators and policymakers, educators and educators, and educators and pre-service teachers to minimize or eradicate obstacles related to technology integration in post-pandemic teacher education programmes.

In this research we identified the training needs of paramedics in Australia regarding elder abuse identification and response. Ten qualitative interviews with paramedics and paramedic educators from each state and territory were conducted between January and March 2024. Participants encountered elder abuse in their professional capacity, often manifesting as neglect although responses were variable, influenced by the jurisdiction, whether the paramedic had specialist training, how much “scene time” was permitted, workload pressures, and if there were clear protocols and guidelines from the ambulance service on how to respond to elder abuse. The existing training was perceived as “patchy” and ad hoc, but participants offered recommendations for training content and preferred training delivery method in detecting and responding to elder abuse. Given population aging and increased use of ambulance services by older people, paramedics have a crucial role to play in elder abuse early detection and referral. This research presents a critical first step in addressing this gap.

Like many sectors, the South African fast-food market was adversely affected by the country’s first COVID-19 “lockdown,” with franchises forced to close or only partially operate between March and June of 2020. Fast-food establishments are significant contributors to South Africa’s food and beverages sector, and their closure during the stringent lockdown periods had a critical economic impact. Furthermore, during the hard lockdown, misinformation about fast-food operations increased, with public relations (PR) practitioners often needing social media to engage with consumers more effectively. This study explores how PR practitioners in a specific South African fast-food franchise used social media during the hard lockdown in 2020. Stakeholder theory and the two-way symmetrical model frame this qualitative study, with data gathered through interviews and analysed using thematic content analysis. Results indicate that the PR team in the selected franchise used social media on an ad hoc basis for crisis communication, sharing information about the franchise’s corporate social initiatives, reputation management, and the prevention of misinformation.

This paper gives a detailed study for the design and implementation of an energy management system (EMS) for a hybrid renewable microgrid system using real‐time software. Microgrids, with their ability to integrate renewable energy sources, face challenges in maintaining stability and reliability. The implemented EMS aimed to maximize the renewable energy sources utilization, including PV and wind power, in conjunction with a battery energy storage system. The objectives of this research included the implementation of an EMS that ensures a reliable and stable operation between the microgrid system and the main grid including the control of charge and discharge of the battery using Typhoon Hardware‐in‐the‐Loop (HIL) software. The simulation results and case studies demonstrated the effectiveness and performance of the developed EMS in managing a hybrid renewable microgrid system. The results also demonstrated that the time of charging was maximized by utilizing a higher power. By doing so, the battery was fully charged in a shorter timeframe. The battery state of charge (SOC) was maintained between the fixed values (20% and 100%) as stated by the algorithm.

Supplementary sugar-water feeding offers nectarivorous birds a source of spatially concentrated food, as opposed to the dispersed food available in flowers. This could impact bird visits to native flowers and alter plant-bird mutualisms, particularly in young post-fire vegetation. This study examined the effects of sugar-water feeders on nectarivorous birds and their plant mutualists in young (burned 18 months previously) and transitional vegetation (burned 5 years previously). A supplementary feeding experiment was conducted at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve in South Africa, using sugar-water feeders when floral abundance was low (winter) and high (spring). We compared bird abundance and visitation rates to flowers before, during, and after feeder presence in both seasons. The use of sugar-water feeders by nectarivorous birds was inversely related to floral abundance, with 679 bird visits (6.94 ± 1.40 bird visitation rate per hour) to feeders in winter and only 90 visits (0.41 ± 0.16 visitation rate per hour) during spring. Bird visits were higher at flowers than at sugar-water feeders, in both seasons. Sugar-water feeders did not influence the visitation rate of sunbirds to flowers in both seasons, contrasting with findings from areas abutting suburbia, suggesting that feeder influence on bird visitation rate may not be apparent in areas with no history of sugar-water feeders. We find that low numbers of feeders do not necessarily compete with natural nectar resources but may instead provide birds with an additional food source, particularly when floral resources are low.

Marine ecosystems are significantly threatened by plastic litter, hence, effective detection and monitoring techniques are necessary. The identification and classification of ocean plastic litter is made possible by the development of remote sensing (RS) methods such as optical imaging, thermal infrared (TIR) sensing, hyperspectral imaging (HSI), multispectral imaging (MSI), and synthetic aperture radar (SAR). This article reviews the RS methods highlighting their unique strengths and limitations, emphasizing on their application contexts, data processing requirements, and potential integration for enhanced detection accuracy. The article investigates marine plastic characteristics such as size, specific gravity, spectral characteristics, thermal emissivity, and surface roughness, and dielectric properties needed for effective ocean plastic litter detection. Additionally, the study shows different RS data collection methods, platforms used, applications, locations of study, data classes, dataset availability, benefits, and limitations. The raw data obtained by the various RS methods are susceptible to unwanted signals such as atmospheric conditions, cloud cover, and sunglint. Therefore, a detailed review of the different data preprocessing methods for RS data such as atmospheric correction, data fusion, noise reduction, cloud masking, sunglint correction, resampling, and image enhancement is performed. This contributes to enhancing the identification and monitoring of ocean plastic litter. The study further introduces a systematic review of existing ocean plastic litter detection methods based on RS. Thus, showing the detailed process of data collection, preprocessing, data analysis, validation, mapping, and reporting. More so, other contributing factors for the effective detection of ocean plastic litter using the RS methods such as sensor resolution, ground truth data, and classification methods were discussed. Finally, the article investigates the sensor resolution, ground truth data, and classification methods. The study identifies significant gaps in the existing literature and recommends integrating multiple RS methods and optimizing preprocessing techniques to enhance ocean plastic litter detection.

The South African National Health Insurance (NHI) faces challenges due to a lack of an enterprise technical architecture (ETA) solution, for the implementation. This study aims to propose an ETA, to enable and support the implementation of the South African ETA. The qualitative method was employed in the data collection. Actor‐network theory (ANT) was applied as a lens to examine the data. The findings reveal several critical influencing factors, including readiness assessment, geographical locations of stakeholders; diversity of healthcare facilities; flexibility of technology solutions; and synchronization of processes and patients' data. The study highlights the need to provide governance for the technologies that influence the implementation of NHI. Based on the influencing factors, a framework was developed. The framework is intended to provide architectural governance (principles, standards, and policies), to efficiently and effectively, facilitate, support, and enable the implementation of the South African NHI.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming pervasive in contemporary work organisations due to its perceived benefits. A review of the literature shows that AI is being appropriated in a wide range of industries that include the automotive industry, food chains, retail businesses and parts of the media and communication sector. Although several scholars have identified the immense benefits associated with appropriating AI in work organisations, there is a paucity of studies that examine how AI is being appropriated into the broader field of organisational communication. Using a systematic search of EbscoHost, Web of Science and Google Scholar, this scoping review sought to understand how AI is being appropriated to enhance organisational communication in contemporary organisations. Our findings show that a growing number organisations are appropriating AI in organisational communication. The studies analysed show that AI tools such as autobots, WordAI, Spin Rewriter and NLG have been appropriated to enhance and replicate organisational communication tasks such as media and audience analysis, content creation, crisis communication and to a lesser extent communication strategy and decision support. However, the findings confirm that current AI applications are still limited in terms of their capacity to cater for human capabilities such as perceptual understanding and self-thinking. Looking into the future, AI needs to incorporate more human capabilities to extend its utility in organisational communication. Its appropriation in organisations needs to be extended beyond replacing and enhancing organisational communication tasks to informing decision making and organisational communication strategy.

This book, Organisational Communication in Africa: Navigating a Digitalised World, explores the evolving landscape of organisational communication in Africa and examines the impact of digitalisation across various countries on the continent. It offers novel insights, theories, and practical strategies for navigating the opportunities and challenges posed by the Fourth Industrial Revolution. While digitalisation is not new, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated its adoption, transforming organisations and their environments. This book provides a timely and relevant analysis of these transformative changes.